Biodegradable Mining Release Agent Prevents Ore Freezing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mining and mineral processing industries face challenges in efficiently removing overburden, which often sticks to or freezes on equipment due to its wet and viscous nature, leading to equipment buildup, maintenance issues, and loss of valuable materials, with existing solutions like water-based and yellow grease-based release agents causing more problems than they solve.
Innovation Solution
A biodegradable slip coating made from a mixture of natural oils, such as soy bean oil, combined with a surfactant like LUTENSOL®, applied to mining equipment to prevent materials from sticking or freezing, offering improved consistency, odorlessness, and environmental safety compared to prior art products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If water-based release agents are used, then the equipment surface is lubricated, but the material tends to freeze to the equipment in cold weather
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the release agent by using natural oils with higher freezing points instead of water-based formulations. This parameter change allows the lubricant to remain effective in cold weather conditions where water-based products would freeze and fail to provide release.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite materials by combining natural oils with specific additives to create a release agent that maintains lubrication properties across a wide temperature range. This composite formulation provides both the lubrication needed for ease of operation and the cold-weather resistance required for reliable material release.
2Ease of operation
If yellow grease is used as release agent, then the material does not stick to equipment, but the product has unpleasant odor and inconsistent quality
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces expensive, inconsistent yellow grease with more affordable natural oils that provide comparable release performance. The natural oils offer consistent quality and can be sourced reliably, eliminating the composition instability associated with yellow grease while maintaining effective material release.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical composition from yellow grease to natural oils, which fundamentally alters the odor profile and consistency characteristics. This parameter change eliminates the unpleasant odor and composition variability of yellow grease while preserving the material release function.
3Productivity
If conventional release agents are used, then equipment buildup is reduced, but environmental pollution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the potential harm of oil-based products (environmental pollution) into a benefit by selecting biodegradable natural oils. These oils effectively prevent equipment buildup and maintain productivity while simultaneously being environmentally friendly and biodegradable, thus eliminating the pollution problem associated with conventional synthetic release agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the environmental safety parameters of the release agent by using biodegradable natural oils instead of persistent synthetic chemicals. This parameter change maintains the equipment efficiency benefits of conventional agents while eliminating their harmful environmental effects.
4Ease of operation
If thick slip coating is applied to prevent sticking, then material release improves, but equipment maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the viscosity and application parameters of the release agent to optimize performance. The natural oil formulation provides effective release properties at thinner application rates, reducing the complexity of coating application and equipment maintenance compared to thicker conventional coatings.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The natural oil and surfactant mixture effectively prevents mining materials from sticking or freezing on equipment, reducing maintenance costs and ensuring operational efficiency in various temperature conditions, while being environmentally friendly and non-hazardous, thus addressing the limitations of existing release agents.
Implementation Method 1
a biodegradable slip coating made from a mixture of natural oils, such as soy bean oil, combined with a surfactant like LUTENSOL®
Implementation Method 2
combined with a surfactant like LUTENSOL®
Implementation Method 3
applied to mining equipment to prevent materials from sticking or freezing
Data Source
AI summary
A release agent for use on mining and mineral processing equipment that eliminate or significantly reduces sticking and freezing of ore and mining materials during excavation, transportation, and processing. The release agent is comprised of a mixture of natural oils such as crude degummed soybean oil and a surfactant such as Lutensol®.